Thursday, July 02, 2009

> Larry's Story

Larry Munson has been "the voice of the dawgs" since 1966.  A WWII vet, Munson got interested in radio when he heard an ad about the shortage of radio personnel in the United States.  With his $200.00 discharge pay from the military, Larry went to radio school in Devil's Lake, ND where he graduated in a class of 20 students.

His first job after graduating was with the University of Wyoming in Cheyenne.  He called the football games there until 1947 when he joined the Southeastern Conference with Vanderbilt University in Nashvile, TN.  He called both football and basketball games for the Commodores, and he hosted a local fishing show in Nashville.

Larry Munson, pictured here at Sanford Stadium.  Often referred to as "The 12th Man", Munson has been an icon in GA football since 1966.

2007 SEC STANDINGS

East

Conf

Overall

Georgia

6-2

9-2

Tennessee

5-2

8-3

Florida

5-3

8-3

Kentucky

3-4

7-4

S Carolina

3-5

6-5

Vanderbilt

2-6

5-6

West

Conf

Overall

LSU

6-1

10-1

Auburn

4-3

7-4

Alabama

4-3

6-5

Arkansas

3-4

7-4

Mississippi St

3-4

6-5

Mississippi

0-7

3-8

In 1966, while on assigment in Florida for the Atlanta Braves Spring practice, Larry accepted a job from the University of Georgia to replace long time radio announcer Ed Thilenius.  Since then, the Minnesota native has made a connection with the Bulldog Nation.  His often immitated, never duplicated style is what has earned him the title of "The 12th Man" in Georgia Football.

The Georgia Bulldog Radio Network Crew.  L-R: Neil "Hondo" Williamson, Larry Munson, Scott Howard (standing), and Dick Payne (long time spotter for Munson).

Larry Munson's Birthday is September 28 (1922).

Larry Munson does not have a sense of smell.

Larry Munson is an avid reader and has been known to read up to 3 novels per week.

Larry Munson served in WWII.

Larry Munson once used "fake broadcasting" to call University of Wyoming football games.  Back in those days, cost of travel did not allow the broadcasters to travel with the team on away games, so Larry would call the games (on 3-5 minute delay) via telegraphs coming in from the game.

Larry Munson used to announce on WSM Radio in Nashville, TN. He also did the play-by-play for the Nashville Vols from the Sulphur Dell.

Larry Munson leads a weekly movie club where he and mostly college students go to the movies together.  After the movie, Larry and the group review and critique the movie.

Do you know an interesting Larry Munson fact?  E-mail us, and we will include it here!

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(Please include any reputable websites or sources that we may use to help validate the information before I publish it.)

www.uga.edu